The King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality in partnership with the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) and the Eastern Cape Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism held a Rural Engagement Programme.
The purpose of this programme held at Empa Primary School in Qunu under Ward 19, was to raise awareness on the dangers of substandard products that consumers are exposed to daily. It was also aimed to promote the safety of consumers, the environment and ensuring fair trade.
The programme is hoped to further improve intergovernmental cooperation and facilitate service delivery where compliance and the provision of safe consumer goods is concerned.
Prior to the main event, NRCS together with KSD Municipality embarked on a business compliance inspection in Mthatha CBD and Mqanduli and removed harmful products from various shops. Products removed ranged from disposable nappies to paraffin heaters and canned foods, among others.
KSD Executive Mayor, Cllr Nyaniso Nelani, announced a partnership with NRCS saying that, the Municipality is committed to the safety of its citizens and this partnership will ensure that the goods consumed in KSD are up to standard and durable. He further said that the inspections will be conducted on a quarterly basis.
The Speaker of Council, Cllr Nomamfengu Siyo-Sokutu stated that since KSD has aspirations to become a Metro come 2026, making sure that we consume products that comply with the country’s regulations is another step, to ensure a healthy KSD.
NRCS CEO, Mr Edward Mamadise said the NRCS’s mandate is to protect consumers and facilitate fair trade and what they seek is to educate consumers about the products/goods they consume. “The good work done amounts to nothing when communities are not educated or made aware”, he said. He added that businesses are encouraged to comply with regulations.
Qunu Traditional Council, Chief Nokwanele Balizulu said, “We buy not knowing what we buy is substandard. We buy building materials that are not durable. Only the government will check, we must not take the law into our own hands. We must allow inspectors to check our shops because that is our health at risk. The government is going around checking so they can watch what we eat for our own good”. Mr Phumelele Ndamase, the Chairperson of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and
